ECAC Players Receive Six All-America Nods from the USILA
PERRY, N.Y. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference had six student-athletes representing three league institutions who were named on Thursday to the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Division I All-America team, as voted on by the coaches. Denver led the way with four selections while Loyola University Maryland and Ohio State had one apiece.
Denver junior attacker Mark Matthews leads the pack as he was chosen to the second team. The Oshawa, Ontario product garnered 2011 ECAC Player of the Year accolades after leading the conference in goals (45), total points (69), game-winning goals (3), shots (127), and he was third in assists (24).
Pioneer teammates Chase Carraro (Louisville, Ky.), Cameron Flint (Georgetown, Ontario) and Jamie Faus (Lakeville, Conn.) were honorable mention. Carraro compiled 19 goals and 21 points while pacing the ECAC with 97 ground balls and ranking second with a .589 face-off percentage (224-of-380). Flint registered 27 goals, 37 points and 36 ground balls. Both sophomore midfielders were named to the all-conference first team. In addition, Faus was chosen as the ECAC Rookie of the Year and the second-team all-conference goalie has recorded an 8.22 goals-against average and .570 save percentage, to go along with an ECAC-best 179 saves and 14-2 record, heading into this weekend’s NCAA Semifinals.
Matt Kawamoto of Ohio State was tabbed the ECAC Defensive Player of the Year after he anchored a Buckeye unit that ranked first in ECAC scoring defense (8.06), first in GAA (7.99) and third in penalty killing (.740; 50-of-63). He also contributed a goal, 32 ground balls, 14 caused turnovers and helped the team to an 86.3 percent clear rate. The junior first-team all-conference and USILA honorable mention All-America standout hails from Springfield, Va.
Loyola Maryland sophomore attackman and honorable mention All-American Mike Sawyer (Waxhaw, N.C.) averaged 2.38 goals and 2.77 points for second and sixth in the ECAC, respectively. He is a two-time all-ECAC pick, including making the first team this season.
For the complete USILA Division I All-America Team, please click on the following link:
